A teenager who performed the opening act at Alicia Keys 'Set the World on Fire' concert in Dubai has described the gig as the most memorable moment in his life.
Still buzzing from the show on Friday, Joshua Job told 7DAYS: “It’s the best thing that’s happened to me, ever! It’s an experience I will never forget and I hope to do it again.”
The 17-year-old student, who won a competition on Virgin Radio, sang ‘I’m Yours’ by Jason Mraz and his self-composed single ‘Katie’, which he described as a “bit of reggae with a pop influence and a special guitar tapping stunt”.
Josh J, as he likes to be called, said he had been practising his tunes non-stop for the big day. “I spent every moment of free time possible singing… even on my walk to the school bus every morning, and in the shower,” he said.
But the teen songwriter and singer said nothing could have prepared him for the experience of meeting Keys in person.
“I had a long list of things to say to her and ask her, but everything just goes out the window in her presence,” he said. “She was brilliant. Her stage presence and just everything about her was so elegant and graceful and just effortlessly flawless. It was simply an indescribable experience to meet someone like her. In the moment, all I could remember to do was thank her for letting me open for her.”
Meanwhile, Josh’s mother Philomena, who lives with her parents aged 80 and 73, revealed how a well wisher anonymously contributed two tickets so the family could see Josh perform.
“My mum and dad are his biggest fans. I felt so sad that they could not be there to see his biggest moment because I could not afford to buy them tickets, as only the Dhs600 tickets were available. But on Thursday afternoon the bell rang and there was an envelope with two front pit tickets,” she said.
To listen to Josh J’s work, visit facebook.com/Josh96J
